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<p class="netscape4">Richard Stallman announced in September 1983 the plan to develop a free software Unix-like operating system called GNU. GNU is the only operating system developed specifically for the sake of users' freedom.</p>

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<div class="first-column">

<h2>What is GNU?</h2>

<p>GNU is a Unix-like operating system that
is <a href="/philosophy/free-sw.html">free software</a>&mdash;it
respects your freedom.  You can install
<a href="/distros/free-distros.html">
versions of GNU</a> (more precisely, GNU/Linux systems) which are
entirely free software. <a href="/provide.html">What we provide</a>.</p>

<p class="c"><a href="/distros/screenshot.html"><img
   src="/graphics/t-desktop-4-small.jpg" alt="Screenshot of GNU"
   /></a></p>

<p>The <a href="/gnu/gnu.html">GNU Project</a> was launched in 1984 to
develop the GNU system.  The name &ldquo;GNU&rdquo; is a recursive
acronym for &ldquo;GNU's Not
Unix!&rdquo;.  <a href="/pronunciation/pronunciation.html">&ldquo;GNU&rdquo; is
pronounced <em>g'noo</em></a>, as one syllable, like saying "grew" but
replacing the <em>r</em> with <em>n</em>.</p>

<p>A Unix-like operating system is a <a href="/software/">software
collection</a> of applications, libraries, and developer tools, plus a
program to allocate resources and talk to the hardware, known as a
kernel.</p>

<p><a href="/software/hurd/hurd.html">The Hurd, GNU's own kernel</a>,
is some way from being ready for daily use.  Thus, GNU is typically
used today with a kernel called Linux.  This combination is
the <a href="/gnu/linux-and-gnu.html"><strong>GNU/Linux operating
system</strong></a>.  GNU/Linux is used by millions, though
many <a href="/gnu/gnu-linux-faq.html">call it &ldquo;Linux&rdquo; by
mistake</a>.</p>

<h2>What is Free Software?</h2>

<p>&ldquo;<a href="/philosophy/free-sw.html">Free software</a>&rdquo;
is a matter of liberty, not price.  To understand the concept, you
should think of &ldquo;free&rdquo; as in &ldquo;free speech&rdquo;,
not as in &ldquo;free beer&rdquo;.</p>

<p><strong>Free software is a matter of the users' freedom to run,
copy, distribute, study, change and improve the software.</strong>  More
precisely, it refers to four kinds of freedom, for the users of the
software:</p>

<ul>
<li>The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).</li>
<li>The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your needs
    (freedom 1).   Access to the source code is a precondition for this.</li>
<li>The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor
    (freedom 2).</li>
<li>The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements
   to the public, so that the whole community benefits
    (freedom 3).   Access to the source code is a precondition for this.</li>
</ul>


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<p class="button c large"><a
      href="/distros/free-distros.html">Download GNU now</a></p>

<div class="emph-box">

<h4 id="Flashes"><a href="http://planet.gnu.org/">Planet GNU</a> <a href="http://planet.gnu.org/rss20.xml"><img src="/feed-icon-10x10.png" alt="RSS Feed" /></a></h4>

<!-- Autogenerated by planetrss.pl 1.7 -->
<p><a href='http://multixden.blogspot.com/2014/05/projectcenter-build-parser-fixes.html'>
ProjectCenter build parser fixes</a>:
Debugging build tools...I was long plagued GNUstep's IDE ProjectCenter had problems with parsing the compiler's output. This made "clicking" on the warning or...
<a href='http://multixden.blogspot.com/2014/05/projectcenter-build-parser-fixes.html'>more</a></p>
<p><a href='http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/nominate-a-free-software-initiative-for-the-chris-nicol-floss-prize'>
Nominate a free software initiative for the Chris Nicol FLOSS Prize!</a>:
The Association for Progressive Communications (APC) has established the Chris Nicol FLOSS Prize, which recognizes initiat...
<a href='http://www.fsf.org/blogs/community/nominate-a-free-software-initiative-for-the-chris-nicol-floss-prize'>more</a></p>
<p><a href='http://gnuremotecontrol.wordpress.com/2014/05/03/newsletter-may-2014/'>
Newsletter – May 2014</a>:

THIS MONTH…..
-TRENDS
-EYE CATCHING
-ANNUAL PLAN
-DISCUSSIONS
-EXISTING CODE
-SECURITY
-LASTLY
-TRENDS
The stuff going on in the big picture now…..
United States Electr...
<a href='http://gnuremotecontrol.wordpress.com/2014/05/03/newsletter-may-2014/'>more</a></p>


<p>For more news, see <a href="http://planet.gnu.org/">Planet GNU</a>
and the list of <a href="/software/recent-releases.html">recent GNU
releases</a>.</p>

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<h4 id="enscript">
  <a href="/software/enscript/">Enscript</a></h4><p>
GNU Enscript is a program to convert ASCII text files to PostScript, HTML
or RTF formats, to be stored in files or sent immediately to a printer.
It also includes the capability to perform syntax highlighting for
several different programming languages.
<small>(<a href="/manual/manual.html#enscript">doc</a>)</small></p>














































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































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<p><small><a href="/manual/blurbs.html">Short descriptions for all GNU
packages.</a></small></p>

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privacy</a>, and support <a
href="http://www.laquadrature.net/en/the-eu-commissions-outrageous-attempt-to-avoid-copyright-reform">
global copyright reform</a> with <a
href="http://www.laquadrature.net/en/">LQDN</a>.</li>

<li>Support the efforts on net neutrality in Europe,
<a href="http://www.savetheinternet.com" title="Net
neutrality in the United States of America">in the USA</a>
and <a href="http://www.neutrality.ca" title="Net neutrality in
Canada">in Canada</a>.</li>

<li><strong>Fight against software patents:</strong>
<a href="http://www.endsoftpatents.org">worldwide</a>,
<a href="/server/takeaction.html#swpat">and Europe</a>.</li>

<li><strong>Watch and share this movie:</strong> <a
href="http://patentabsurdity.com">Patent Absurdity</a>&mdash;made
possible by <a href="http://www.fsf.org/associate/">FSF associate
members</a> like <a href="http://fsf.org/jfb">you</a>.</li>

<li><strong><a href="/server/takeaction.html#wipochange">Call
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<li>Students! <a href="http://www.aful.org/communiques/univ-offers-me-windows">
Claim a refund on your unused Microsoft Windows licences</a>.</li>

<li><a href="/server/takeaction.html#directory">Add to the Free Software
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<p><strong>Can you contribute to any of
these <a href="http://www.fsf.org/campaigns/priority-projects/">High
Priority Projects</a>?</strong> Gnash, coreboot, free distributions of
GNU/Linux, GNU Octave, drivers for network routers, reversible
debugging in GDB, automatic transcription, PowerVR drivers, and also
free software replacements for Skype, OpenDWG libraries, and Oracle
Forms.</p>

<p id="unmaint"><strong>Can you take over an <a
href="/server/takeaction.html#unmaint">unmaintained GNU
package</a>?</strong>
<span class="gnun-split"></span>
  <a href="/software/gleem/">gleem</a>,
  <a href="/software/gnukart/">gnukart</a>,
  <a href="/software/groff/">groff</a>,
  <a href="/software/halifax/">halifax</a>,
  <a href="/software/jwhois/">jwhois</a>,
  <a href="/software/metahtml/">metahtml</a>,
  <a href="/software/orgadoc/">orgadoc</a>,
  <a href="/software/polyxmass/">polyxmass</a>,
  <a href="/software/superopt/">superopt</a>,
  <a href="/software/teximpatient/">teximpatient</a><span class="gnun-split"></span>,
are all <a href="/server/takeaction.html#unmaint">looking for
maintainers</a>.  Also, these packages are looking for co-maintainers:
<span class="gnun-split"></span>
  <a href="/software/aspell/">aspell</a>,
  <a href="/software/gnuae/">gnuae</a>,
  <a href="/software/metaexchange/">metaexchange</a>,
  <a href="/software/powerguru/">powerguru</a><span class="gnun-split"></span>.
See the package web pages for more information.</p>

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<p><a href="http://www.fsf.org"><img id="fsfbanner"
src="/graphics/fsf-logo-notext.png" alt=" [FSF logo] "/></a><strong>&ldquo;Our
mission is to preserve, protect and promote the freedom to use, study,
copy, modify, and redistribute computer software, and to defend the
rights of Free Software users.&rdquo;</strong></p>
</blockquote>

<p>The <a href="http://www.fsf.org">Free Software Foundation</a> is
the principal organizational sponsor of the GNU Operating System.
<strong>Support GNU and the FSF</strong> by <a
href="http://shop.fsf.org/">buying manuals and gear</a>, <a
href="https://my.fsf.org/associate/support_freedom?referrer=4052">
<strong>joining the FSF</strong></a> as an associate member, or making
a <strong>donation</strong>, either <a
href="http://donate.fsf.org/">directly to the FSF</a> or <a
href="http://flattr.com/thing/313733/gnuproject-on-Flattr">via
Flattr</a>.</p>

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<p id="sisters">The <a href="http://www.fsf.org/">FSF</a> also has sister
organizations in <a href="http://www.fsfe.org">Europe</a>, <a
href="http://www.fsfla.org/">Latin America</a> and <a
href="http://fsf.org.in/">India</a>.</p>

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